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KIX LAC Team and Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is made up of leading experts from the education sector, directors and representatives of major educational organizations and institutions.

Our team

Javier González D.

SUMMA Director

Raúl Chacón Zuloaga

Director of the Regional Center for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation for LAC

Sisera Simon

Head of the OECS Educational Development Management Unit

Mar Botero

Coordinator of knowledge mobilization and management of KIX LAC Communities

Lisa Sargusingh

Technical Specialist OECS Education Development Management Unit

Sonia Rees

Information Management Officer, OECS Communications Unit

Germain Anthony

Technical Specialist, Education Development Management Unit. OECS

Catalina Godoy

Research and evaluation assistant

Our Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is made up of leading experts in the education sector, directors and representatives of major educational organizations and institutions.

Josette Altmann Borbón

FLACSO General Secretariat for LAC

Michael Fullan

Director de Liderazgo Mundial, Nuevas Pedagogías para el aprendizaje profundo

Javier González D.

SUMMA Director

Didacus Jules

Director of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

Sylvia Schmelkes

Associate Professor, Universidad Iberoamericana de México and member of SUMMA’s Board of Directors

Emiliana Vegas

Professor of Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Joel Warrican

Dean of the Faculty of Education. University of the West Indies

Strategic partners

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Sylvia Schmelkes

Associate Professor, Universidad Iberoamericana de México and member of SUMMA’s Board of Directors.

About Sylvia Schmelkes

She has been a researcher in education since 1970, where she has worked in international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF and OECD.

Her involvement in educational research has led her to hold positions as advisor to the Secretary of Public Education from 1996 to 2000, in addition to chairing the Board of Governors of the OECD Center for Educational Research and Innovation from 2002 to 2004. She is currently a member of the Governing Board of the National Institute for the Evaluation of Education (INEE). Sylvia holds a B.A. in Sociology from the Universidad Iberoamericana, where she also obtained her M.A. in Educational Research.

Joel Warrican

Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of the West Indies

About Joel Warrican

More than 30 years of experience in the field of education and teaching at all educational levels. He is currently director of the School of Education and the Caribbean Center for Educational Research. Chair of education in language, literacy and interlinguistic studies.

Didacus Jules

Director, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

About Didacus Jules

Educated in the Caribbean and the United States of America, he graduated from the University of the West Indies (Barbados) in 1997 with an Executive Master’s Degree in Business Administration, where he had previously graduated in 1978. He also enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), where he earned a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1990 and a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction (major) and Educational Policy (minor) in 1992.

Jules was one of the main protagonists of the National Literacy Campaign in Grenada during the 1979 revolution. Subsequently, he was simultaneously Head of Education and Permanent Secretary of Education, Youth, Culture, Women and Social Affairs of Granada. He is a member of the Editorial Group of the International Journal of African and Afro-American Studies.

He was Permanent Secretary for Education and Human Resource Development in the Ministry of Education, Human Resource Development, Youth and Sports of Saint Lucia from 1997 to 2004.

On April 1, 2014, he assumed the position of Director General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States. He has written extensively on critical education, education policy and public sector reform.

Michael Fullan

Global Leadership Director, New Pedagogies for Deep Learning

About Michael Fullan

Recognized as a global authority on education reform, he advises policymakers and local leaders around the world to help achieve the moral purpose of all children learning. He holds honorary doctorates from several universities in North America and abroad. Fullan is a prolific and award-winning author whose books have been published in many languages. Former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and is currently an advisor to the Premier and Minister of Education of Ontario.

Josette Altmann Borbón

Secretary General, FLACSO for Latin America and the Caribbean

About Josette Altmann Borbón

She began her collaboration with FLACSO as a research associate on integration and development issues. She served as Director of the Observatory for Regional Integration in Latin America and was also the Regional Coordinator for International Cooperation and Research from 2006 to 2012.

In June 2016, she was elected as the first woman to serve as Secretary General, a position she held for the 2016-2020 term.2 and re-elected in June 2020 for the 2020-2024 term.

In addition to working with this organization, she has served as a member of the advisory boards of the following organizations: Member in the Advisory Boards of the Organization of Iberoamerican States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI), Member of the Advisory Board of the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange Initiative for Latin America and the Caribbean (KIX-LAC),Chair Region Group Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Leiden University Sept.2018 /Aug.2019, Member of the Commission of the Postgraduate Program in Educational Evaluation of the University of Costa Rica, Professor of the Postgraduate Studies System in Educational Evaluation of the University of Costa Rica, Professor of the Faculties of Education and Social Sciences of the University of Costa Rica.

Germain Anthony

Technical Specialist, Education Development Management Unit. OECS

About Germain Anthony

Germain Anthony is an Education Technical Specialist at the OECS Commission’s Education Development Management Unit (EDMU). He is an educator with 30 years of experience in the sector. He is a teacher by training and holds a degree in Computer Science and Management. He completed a Master’s program in Design for Interactive Media in London (2012). He was also the Commonwealth of Learning National Focal Point in Saint Lucia for several years.

In his previous role as Curriculum Specialist – Technology Integration at the Department of Education, he led and supported several technology in education initiatives in Saint Lucia and the region, including policy development for ICT in Education (ICT), teacher ICT capacity development, technology-based literacy and numeracy interventions, implementation and supervision of ICT projects, digital content development, automation and digitization of national and regional assessment activities, and the introduction of computer coding and robotics into the curriculum. In her current role, she leads the coordination of the Giga project at the OECS, the development of digital learning content at the EDMU, and also leads and supports the coordination of several initiatives within the OECS/UNICEF Joint Programme on Inclusive Education.

Sonia Rees

Information Management Officer, Communications Unit Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

About Sonia Rees

Information management professional. Manages both explicit and tacit knowledge through appropriate platforms and processes, engaging people to better leverage knowledge, supporting the preservation of key historical and technically valuable records and information, knowledge and documents for good business continuity practice. He is also part of the team designing a records and information framework for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Lisa Sargusingh

Technical Specialist Education Development Management Unit Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

About Lisa Sargusingh

Educator with 30 years of experience at all levels of the educational sector. She holds a master’s degree in education with a specialization in language and literacy education from the University of Waikato (New Zealand), a postgraduate diploma in curriculum policy development, a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, and a certificate in French language teaching from the Alliance Française de Paris (France). He has extensive experience in supervising educational research and curriculum development, and has taught and supervised graduate courses on literacy and educational research in the region. Extensive experience in faculty professional development and educator training at UWI Open Campus, UWI Mona and the Division of Teacher Education and Educational Administration at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) in St. Lucia. She is also an empathetic educator with several years as a student liaison officer providing support services to tertiary level students at the Division of Technical Educational and Management Studies (DTEMS) in St. Lucia. Prior to working as a reading specialist on the OECS/USAID ELP project management team, she was a Language and Communication teacher at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, an online facilitator at the UWI Open Campus, and a teacher trainer at the University of the Southern Caribbean (USC).

Sisera Simon

Head of the Education Development Management Unit Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

About Sisera Simon

Experienced education coordinator with a proven track record of working in the regional affairs industry. Experienced in policy and data analysis, governance, program evaluation and strategic planning. Solid education professional graduated from the Project Management Institute.
Currently, she is the Head of the Education Development Management Unit Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

Emiliana Vegas

Professor of Practice at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

About Emiliana Vegas

Emiliana Vegas es profesora de prácticas en la Harvard Graduate School of Education. His research and practice focus on improving educational opportunities in developing countries. D. in Education from the HGSE, Master in Public Policy from Duke University and Bachelor in Communication from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas (Venezuela).

Prior to returning to HGSE, Vegas was co-director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. Prior to Brookings, she was Chief of the Education Division of the Inter-American Development Bank, where she oversaw the Bank’s lending operations and technical assistance projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean countries. Prior to joining the IDB, he worked for more than ten years at the World Bank, where he led research and operations focused on education systems in several low- and middle-income countries. She has written extensively on issues affecting education systems in Latin America and the Caribbean and other developing regions. His articles and books cover topics such as policies for leveraging technology to accelerate learning and skills development, increasing teacher effectiveness, school finance policies, and early childhood development policies.

Francesca Bonomelli Carrasco

Senior Researcher at SUMMA

About Francesca Bonomelli Carrasco

Francesca Bonomelli Carrasco is a Senior Researcher at SUMMA, with a background in project management, public policies, and applied research. She is interested in equity and justice which is reflected in her work and research on education, employment, inequality, migration, and gender issues.

Her previous work experience includes coordinating an educational transformation project in Paraguay, her work as a consultant for UNESCO and the ILO, and her key roles in the Ministry of Education of Chile. Currently, at SUMMA, she focuses on supporting the development of educational policies and connecting research, practice, and educational policy.

She got a master’s degree in international development studies from the University of Amsterdam, she obtained a master’s degree in labor economics for Development from the University of Turin, and her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Chile. All of which provide her with skills, technical tools, and diverse perspectives to contribute to the important work that SUMMA is pushing forward.

Catalina Godoy

Research and Evaluation Assistant KIX LAC

About Catalina Godoy

Catalina is a research and evaluation assistant at KIX LAC. She is a commercial engineer with a degree in economics and a master’s degree in Economics and Public Policy from the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez de Chile.

She began her career in SUMMA and has been part of different projects within the institution. She participated in the Evaluation Area and in the Chaka project before joining KIX LAC.

Paula Salas

Evaluation Project Coordinator

About Paula Salas

Paula Salas is Coordinator of Evaluation Projects at SUMMA. Her main experience is in educational research and development of assessment instruments. She worked as an analyst at the Measurement Center of the Catholic University (MIDE UC) and for four years at the Department of Psychology of the University of Chile in various research projects, aimed at the development of psychoeducational assessment instruments to support high school students. High School Humanist Scientist and Professional Technician in the process of transition to higher education.

She is a psychologist from the University of Chile and has a master’s degree in Social Research Methods from University College London (UCL).

Mar Botero

Coordinator of knowledge mobilization and management of KIX LAC Communities.

About Mar Botero

With more than 10 years as Project Manager and strategic communication specialist, her work focuses on international development, citizen participation and education. She has led knowledge mobilization and synthesis strategies for public policy decision making, and capacity building programs, as well as the establishment of strategic alliances and advocacy campaigns at national and regional level, in collaboration with governments, international organizations, philanthropic foundations, academic research centers and civil society.

She is an Advertising Graphic Communicator and has complementary studies in Human Rights Education and Educational Communication. Currently, she leads the strategy of Knowledge Mobilization and network management at the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange Center (KIX) for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Raúl Chacón-Zuloaga

Regional Centre for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation for Latin America and the Caribbean Director (KIX LAC)

About Raúl Chacón-Zuloaga

Raúl Chacón-Zuloaga is the Regional Centre for Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Director (KIX), developed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). With twenty years of experience in the field of education, he focuses his work on the development and improvement of the Chilean system, through research and evaluation of different policies and initiatives. He has led and collaborated in the processes of design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of educational policies in Chile, especially in the installation of the National System for Quality Assurance in Education in recent years.

He has also participated in relevant regional and international initiatives, such as the Regional Comparative and Explanatory Study of the Latin American Laboratory for the Evaluation of the Quality of Education (LLECE – UNESCO) and the School Resource Review (OECD), as part of the National Experts Group. From 2015 to 2018, he has been a professor in the master’s degree in Educational Policies at the Alberto Hurtado Universidad de Chile. A sociologist from P. Universidad Católica de Chile, he holds a master’s degree in Educational Studies from Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.

Javier González D.

SUMMA Director

About Javier González D.

He is an economist (PhD. and MPhil from the University of Cambridge) specialized in development, inequality, social mobility, education and innovation. For 25 years, he has focused on the comparative study, design and development of public policies and institutional changes, from academia, government and various international organizations.

He is Director and Co-founder of SUMMA, the Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (created by the Inter-American Development Bank in 2016), from where he advises and works collaboratively with the authorities of the ministries of education of 25 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting research and educational policies that foster greater social justice.

He is also a President of the Governing Board of the National Agency for Education Quality Assessment in Chile. State institution responsible for assessing learning outcomes at the national level and orienting school improvement strategies. 

At the international level, he is part of the advisory group of the OECD’s Schools+ network and the What Works Hub for Global Education (University of Oxford). He has been a senior advisor to various organizations, including the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), UNESCO, the World Bank, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and ASEAN. In turn, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Fundación Chile, and advisory boards of UNESCO (GEM), CORFO, the Chilean National Innovation Council for Competitiveness, the Brookings Institution and the OECD.

In academia, between 2014 and 2022 he was affiliated with the University of Cambridge, as a professor of political economy and development. He has also taught at SciencePo (Paris-France), Brown University (USA), Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain), ECLAC-UN, and the University of Chile, where he is also a researcher at the Center for the Study of Conflict and Social Cohesion (COES). His research has been published by different publishers, such as University Oxford Press, Routledge, Policy Press, UNESCO Press, OECD Press and Catalonia. For his contribution to outstanding academic research, he received the 2023 David Marsden Prize (best paper of the year), awarded by the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE).

In government, he has held positions of responsibility in Chile in the governments of Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet, mainly as: Education and Innovation Policies Advisor in the cabinet of the Ministry of Finance; Executive Secretary of the Committee of Ministers for the Formation of Advanced Human Capital and Chile Scholarships; Director of Studies and Strategic Planning of the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICYT); and Researcher at the Ministry of Education. From these roles, he contributed to the design of laws, programs and reforms in the educational, tax and innovation fields.

Overall, he has worked improving education policies across Latin America (Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines), as well as Europe (United Kingdom) and the Middle East (United Arab Emirates).